User interface devices (UIDs) for sensing position or motion of an actuator assembly in multiple degrees of freedom are disclosed. In one embodiment a UID includes a frame having a top and bottom assembly, an actuator assembly disposed within a volume between the top and bottom of the frame having magnets disposed therein, a sensor array for sensing magnetic fields from the magnets in multiple axes, and a processing element for receiving the sensed magnet fields and generating a UID output signal corresponding to a position, translation, rotation, deformation, or other action of the actuator assembly.
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1. A user interface device (UID), comprising: a frame including a base assembly and a top assembly; wherein the top assembly is in a fixed position relative to the base assembly; an actuator assembly disposed between the top assembly and the base assembly, the actuator assembly including: an outer actuator element and an inner actuator element; and a plurality of springs mechanically coupling the one or more actuator elements to the frame, the plurality of springs comprising an outer spring array and an inner spring array; and a damping element disposed on or within one or more springs of the plurality of springs; and a plurality of sensors disposed within the frame between the top assembly and the base assembly for sensing positional information associated with the actuator assembly and providing one or more sensor output signals corresponding to the sensed positional information.
A user interface device (UID) includes a frame with a base and a top fixed relative to each other. An actuator assembly sits between them, featuring an outer and inner element. Springs (outer and inner arrays) connect the actuator to the frame. A damping element resides on or within one or more of the springs. Sensors inside the frame measure the actuator assembly's position and output corresponding signals.
2. The UID of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of magnets disposed between the top assembly and the base assembly; wherein the sensors are magnetic field sensors for sensing magnetic fields from the magnets and generating the positional information based at least in part on the sensed magnetic fields.
The user interface device (UID) from the previous description also includes magnets positioned between the top and base. The sensors are magnetic field sensors. These sensors detect the magnetic fields from the magnets and create positional information based on these sensed fields. The UID thus uses magnetic sensing to determine actuator position.
3. The UID of claim 2 , wherein the magnets are disposed on the actuator assembly and the sensors are disposed on a printed circuit board element coupled to the frame.
In the user interface device (UID) which uses magnetic sensing to determine actuator position, the magnets are located on the actuator assembly itself, and the sensors are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) that's attached to the frame.
4. The UID of claim 3 , further comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector disposed on the printed circuit board.
The magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID) having magnets on the actuator, sensors on a PCB coupled to the frame further includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector on the printed circuit board. This connector allows for data transfer and power.
5. The UID of claim 2 , wherein the magnetic sensors are three-axis magnetic sensors for providing output signals corresponding to magnetic fields sensed in three orthogonal axes at a point or small area in space.
In the magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID), the magnetic sensors are three-axis sensors. They output signals corresponding to the magnetic fields sensed in three orthogonal (perpendicular) axes at a single point or small area. This provides detailed magnetic field information for position determination.
6. The UID of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuator elements include an outer actuator element and the plurality of springs comprise a spring array coupled between the outer actuator element and the frame or core-join element fixedly coupled to the frame.
In the user interface device (UID) described earlier, the actuator assembly has an outer actuator element, and springs connect this element to the frame or to a core-join element that is fixedly coupled to the frame.
7. A user interface device (UID), comprising: a frame including a base assembly and a top assembly; wherein the top assembly is in a fixed position relative to the base assembly; an actuator assembly disposed between the top assembly and the base assembly, the actuator assembly including: one or more actuator elements; and a plurality of springs mechanically coupling the one or more actuator elements to the frame; and a plurality of sensors disposed within the frame between the top assembly and the base assembly for sensing positional information associated with the actuator assembly and providing one or more sensor output signals corresponding to the sensed positional information; wherein the one or more actuator elements include an outer actuator element and an inner actuator element, and the plurality of springs comprise an outer spring array coupled between the outer actuator element and the inner actuator element, and an inner spring array coupled between the inner actuator element and the frame or a core-join element fixedly coupled to the frame.
A user interface device (UID) has a frame with a base and a fixed top. An actuator assembly resides between them, composed of actuator elements. Springs connect the actuators to the frame. Sensors inside the frame detect the actuator assembly's position and create output signals. The actuator elements include an outer and inner element. Outer springs connect the outer to the inner element. Inner springs connect the inner element to the frame or a fixed core-join element.
8. The UID of claim 7 , wherein the outer actuator element has a substantially cylindrical shape and the inner actuator assembly has a triangular shape.
In the user interface device (UID) with inner and outer actuators and spring arrays, the outer actuator element is substantially cylindrical, and the inner actuator element is triangular in shape.
9. The UID of claim 7 , wherein the outer spring array and the inner spring array are in an overlapping spring array configuration.
In the user interface device (UID) with inner and outer actuators and spring arrays, the outer and inner spring arrays are in an overlapping configuration.
10. The UID of claim 7 , further including a damping element disposed on or within one or more of the springs of the inner spring array and/or the outer spring array.
The user interface device (UID) with inner and outer actuators, and spring arrays also contains a damping element on or within one or more springs of the inner and/or outer spring arrays.
11. The UID of claim 10 , wherein the damping element comprises a memory foam material.
In the user interface device (UID) with damping elements on springs, the damping element is made of memory foam.
12. The UID of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of magnets disposed on the outer actuator element; wherein the sensors are magnetic field sensors for sensing magnetic fields from the magnets and generating the positional information based at least in part on the sensed magnetic fields.
In the user interface device (UID) with inner and outer actuators and spring arrays, magnets are placed on the outer actuator element. The sensors are magnetic field sensors that use these magnets to determine position.
13. The UID of claim 12 , wherein the outer actuator element has a cylindrical shape and the magnets are disposed on a retaining arm of the outer actuator element.
In the user interface device (UID) with magnets on the cylindrical outer actuator element, the magnets are attached to a retaining arm of the outer actuator.
14. The UID of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of magnets consists of six magnets arrayed equidistantly around the outer actuator element in a circular array.
In the user interface device (UID) with magnets on the outer actuator, exactly six magnets are placed around the outer actuator element at equal distances in a circular pattern.
15. The UID of claim 12 , further comprising a haptic feedback element disposed on the actuator assembly.
The magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID) also includes a haptic feedback element on the actuator assembly.
16. The UID of claim 15 , wherein the haptic feedback element is a vibrational motor coupled to a printed circuit board of the UID using a flexible circuit cable.
The magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID) with haptic feedback includes a vibrational motor as the haptic element. This motor is connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) using a flexible circuit cable.
17. The UID of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of switches on the top assembly.
The magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID) also includes multiple switches on the top assembly.
18. The UID of claim 12 , further comprising a printed circuit board coupled to the frame or to an element fixed to the frame, wherein the magnetic sensors are disposed on the printed circuit board.
The magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID) has a printed circuit board (PCB) attached to the frame or an element fixed to the frame. The magnetic sensors are located on this PCB.
19. The UID of claim 18 , further comprising a processing element disposed on the printed circuit board for receiving output signals from the magnetic field sensors corresponding to positions of the magnets and generating, based at least in part on the received output signals, a UID output signal for provision to a coupled electronic computing device or system.
The magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID) with sensors on a PCB includes a processing element on the PCB. This processing element receives signals from the magnetic sensors and generates a UID output signal, based on these signals, for an attached computer.
20. The UID of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of LEDs disposed on the printed circuit board.
The magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID) with sensors on a PCB also includes LEDs (light emitting diodes) on the printed circuit board.
21. The UID of claim 18 , further comprising a gyroscopic sensor disposed on the printed circuit board and coupled to the processing element for providing gyroscopic data to the processing element.
The magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID) with sensors on a PCB also includes a gyroscopic sensor on the PCB. This sensor provides gyroscopic data to the processing element.
22. The UID of claim 12 , wherein one or both of the inner spring array and the outer spring array consists of three coil springs.
In the magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID), one or both of the inner and outer spring arrays are comprised of three coil springs each.
23. The UID of claim 12 , wherein the inner spring array springs and coupled radially between the inner actuator element and the frame or core-join element and the outer spring array springs are coupled radially between the inner actuator element and the outer actuator element.
In the magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID), the inner spring array springs connect radially between the inner actuator element and the frame or core-join element. The outer spring array springs connect radially between the inner and outer actuator elements.
24. The UID of claim 12 , further comprising a flexible grip cover disposed around the actuator assembly.
The magnetic-sensing user interface device (UID) includes a flexible grip cover around the actuator assembly.
25. The UID of claim 1 , further comprising a limiter assembly for limiting the motion of the actuator element to a predefined range of motion.
The user interface device (UID) contains a limiter assembly which restricts the motion of the actuator element to a predefined range.
26. The UID of claim 25 , wherein the limiter assembly includes a plurality of limiting arms and corresponding limiting pockets.
The user interface device (UID) with a limiter assembly uses a series of limiting arms and corresponding limiting pockets to restrict actuator motion.
27. A user interface device (UID), comprising: a frame including a base assembly and a top assembly; wherein the top assembly is in a fixed position relative to the base assembly; an actuator assembly disposed between the top assembly and the base assembly, the actuator assembly including: an outer actuator element having a cylindrical shape; an inner actuator element; an outer spring array including a plurality of springs mechanically coupling the outer actuator element to the inner actuator element; an inner spring array including a plurality of springs mechanically coupling the inner actuator element to the frame or to an element coupled to the frame; and a plurality of magnets disposed on the outer actuator element in an equidistant circular array; and a printed circuit board having a processing element and a plurality of multi-axis magnetic sensors, the printed circuit board disposed within the frame between the top assembly and the base assembly for sensing positional information associated with ones of the plurality of magnets and providing one or more sensor output signals corresponding to the sensed positional information to the processing element; wherein the processing element generates a UID output signal corresponding to a position, movement, displacement or deformation of the actuator assembly based at least in part on the multi-axis magnetic sensor outputs.
A user interface device (UID) has a frame (base and fixed top). An actuator is inside with a cylindrical outer and an inner element. Outer springs connect the outer and inner parts. Inner springs connect the inner part to the frame (or attached element). Magnets are equally spaced in a circle on the outer part. A PCB has a processor and multi-axis magnetic sensors, sensing magnet positions and sending signals to the processor, which then generates a UID output based on position/movement/deformation.
28. A method of providing a user interface device (UID) output signal to an electronic computing device or system, comprising: sensing, at a plurality of sensors, positional information associated with corresponding sensed elements disposed on an actuator element of the UID and providing a plurality of sensor output signals to a processing element; generating, in the processing element, based at least in part on the received plurality of sensor output signals, a UID output signal corresponding to a position, translation, displacement or deformation of the actuator assembly; and providing the UID output signal to a communicatively coupled electronic computing device or system; wherein the UID comprises: a frame including a base assembly and a top assembly; wherein the top assembly is in a fixed position relative to the base assembly; an actuator assembly disposed between the top assembly and the base assembly, the actuator assembly including: an outer actuator element and an inner actuator element; a plurality of springs mechanically coupling the actuator elements to the frame, the plurality of springs including an outer spring array coupled between the outer actuator element and the inner actuator element, and an inner spring array coupled between the inner actuator element and the frame or a core-join element fixedly coupled to the frame; and a plurality of sensors disposed within the frame between the top assembly and the base assembly for sensing positional information associated with the actuator assembly and providing one or more sensor output signals corresponding to the sensed positional information.
A method for providing a user interface device (UID) output signal to a computer involves sensors detecting positional information from elements on a UID actuator, sending signals to a processor. The processor uses these signals to generate a UID output signal that reflects the actuator's position/movement/deformation and sends this signal to a connected computer. The UID itself has a frame, an actuator composed of outer and inner elements, outer springs connecting the outer and inner actuator elements, inner springs connecting the inner actuator to the frame, and sensors measuring positional information.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the sensors are multi-axis magnetic field sensors and the sensed elements are magnets.
In the method of providing a UID output signal, the sensors are multi-axis magnetic field sensors, and the elements sensed are magnets.
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May 19, 2014
June 27, 2017
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